Scott Morrison is our new prime minister, which means no women at the very top

By Imogen Dewey| 3 months ago

'For the first time in more than a decade, Julie Bishop is not the deputy leader of the Liberal Party'

Just last night, Julie Bishop told colleagues she would not be "another man's deputy". Women everywhere cheered.

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Still, the developments of the last few hours have been sobering.

“For the first time in more than a decade, Julie Bishop is not the deputy leader of the Liberal Party,” tweeted veteran political commentator Annabel Crabb.

It emerged yesterday that Bishop would contend in the spill against Morrison and Peter Dutton. Earlier today, she was first out of the race, followed by Dutton.

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And with Josh Frydenberg nominated as deputy Liberal leader, Australian women now have no one representing them in two of the most powerful positions in the country – and of course, remember Nationals leader Michael McCormack is deputy prime minister.

Bishop was broadly agreed to be the most popular of the three among voters. Which, as even Labor MP Anthony Albanese was able to point out from the other side of the fence, made her exit a questionable move for a party struggling to hold onto power.

But as well as her popularity, Bishop’s experience means she was considered by many to be the most equipped for the role.

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She has a proven track record, having served 20 years in parliament and more than 10 as second-in-charge to three Liberal leaders: Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott (and Malcolm Turnbull again).

She's also recovered from her own political stumbles, after stepping aside as shadow treasurer and moving to the foreign ministry almost a decade ago – where she has since excelled.

She has always been cool in a crisis, taking a lead role in the response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 and was a firm and steady voice in asking Russian President Vladimir Putin for access to the crash site.

Her experience in diplomacy – not to mention carefully crafted international relationships – could have stood the country in good stead after the international cynicism that will undoubtedly have been raised by this week’s instability.

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More than this, Bishop had also done her time in the role itself, acting as PM just last year during Turnbull’s visit to Israel. And within the party itself, her ability to weather recent (and no-so-recent) tumult proved she’s a crucial equaliser.

But party politics aside, if such a thing is possible on a day like this, Bishop has played a huge role in another way, breaking open the boys’ club of Australian parliament like no one since Julia Gillard.

And we don’t yet know what role Bishop will take in the new cabinet – there’s wide speculation she could be involved at a high level. Whatever happens, it will be interesting to watch, and it seems safe to say her career can only be strengthened by the poise and tenacity she’s shown this week.

But having a woman in one of the two most visible roles in Australian politics was a matter of obvious weight. And the new and sudden absence is glaring.

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Certainly, both Morrison and Frydenberg have demonstrated (at least to the letter) an interest in women’s issues. Morrison vowed to scrap the tampon tax earlier this month, and Frydenberg, among several other initiatives, opened a Kooyong women’s shelter in December last year.